GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (BN24) — Israeli military operations across Gaza since dawn on Monday have left at least 25 Palestinians dead, including 13 people who were reportedly trying to access humanitarian aid, according to medical sources in the territory.
The fatalities occurred amid intensified Israeli strikes in several areas of the besieged enclave. An Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent reported that Israeli forces targeted groups of Palestinians in northern Gaza who had gathered in hopes of receiving desperately needed food assistance. Multiple injuries were also reported in that incident.
The rising death toll underscores the growing humanitarian catastrophe across Gaza, where food, water, and medicine remain nearly impossible to access due to a months-long Israeli blockade. According to Gaza’s health officials, the latest round of deaths highlights the toll of both active bombardment and systemic deprivation.
Among the latest victims is an infant girl, Zainab Abu Halib, who died from starvation in the north of Gaza. Her family said they were unable to find or afford milk as aid remains virtually nonexistent. They watched her health deteriorate for days, eventually rushing her to a hospital — but the facility had no treatment to offer.
Zainab’s death raises the number of Palestinians who have died from hunger-related causes in Gaza to at least 123, including 84 children and infants. With food and medical infrastructure collapsing, humanitarian agencies warn that the crisis is entering an irreversible phase.
“There is no food or drink, and no aid has been delivered for the past five months,” said Dr. Mohammed Abu Afash, director of Medical Relief in Gaza, in an interview with Al Jazeera. He said 17,000 children are now suffering from severe malnutrition, and the enclave has entered what he called the “fifth stage of famine.”
“The situation is deteriorating day by day,” Abu Afash warned. “If medicines and medical supplies are not delivered immediately, the death rate will accelerate.”
Despite mounting international pressure, aid trucks remain unable to enter Gaza in sufficient quantities, and access to medical facilities is severely limited. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations continue to call for immediate ceasefires and safe corridors to deliver life-saving assistance.
